daviecooper01

Celtic representatives have been in Brussels as part of a preliminary investigation by the European Commission into land deals between Celtic and Glasgow City Council. The probe relates to question marks over the purchase of various plots of land, including their Lennoxtown training complex, which it has been alleged constitute State Aid.
In recent months, the European Commission Directorate General for Competition State Aid has announced several formal investigations into allegations of State Aid involving Spanish and Dutch clubs - including Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSV Eindhoven. The latest club to become embroiled in an investigation, over an arrangement with their local council regarding the Liberty Stadium, is Swansea City.
The situation with Celtic is not yet at the same stage as the Spanish and Dutch investigations, but preliminary meetings have been held and information has been requested by the European Commission. When contacted by the Rangers Standard, an EC spokesperson said:
"We have indeed received complaints about alleged aid in land deals between Glasgow and Celtic and we have requested and received detailed information from the UK authorities, lastly in December 2013."
"There is no legal deadline to conclude a State aid investigation; the duration depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of the case".
It is understood that both Celtic and Glasgow City Council are extremely concerned at the possibility of the preliminary investigation leading to the type of full investigation which has been initiated in respect of Spanish and Dutch clubs.
Celtic have purchased several plots of land from State organisations, which have historically been Labour controlled, at low prices. These include the purchase for only, £497,000, of the land their Lennoxtown training ground was built on. It is believed that the recent sale of London Road Primary School may also now fall under examination.
If you are interested in more forensic detail on the various purchases and valuations then you should visit the excellent http://footballtaxha...ase-for-the-eu/
The European Commission has wide ranging powers if there is found to have been a breach of the regulations. The Commission can require the Member State to recover the aid with interest from the beneficiary (in this case Celtic). This could lead to a potential bill of over £30m for Celtic, which would have to be repaid over a maximum period of ten years. Any finding of guilt would put pressure on the SFA to probe any sporting advantage that discounted deals brought. It may also fall foul of new UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations.
This news comes only a day after the announcement that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are to examine the conduct of Co-Op Bank officials over allegations of tie ins with the Labour Party.
Celtic, who can count former Labour Minister, John Reid and former Labour MP, Brian Wilson amongst their former and current directors, were the recipients of extremely favourable loan deals from the Co-Op Bank and those are almost certain to be examined as part of the investigation. It is believed that the State-owned land obtained by Celtic was used as security for these loans.
http://www.thisismon...tball-Club.html
The European Commission probe is separate to this however and Celtic will potentially have to fight on two fronts to show that they have not been the beneficiaries of either State Aid or politically motivated, favourable loans secured against the land purchased. Last year Celtic employed a lawyer with litigation experience as their Company Secretary.
If anyone has any information regarding these allegations then please contact The Rangers Standard in confidence and we will incorporate it into any further enquiries. Anyone with detailed information or any specific complaints relating to State Aid on this matter should contact the European Commission at Stateaidgreffe@ec.europa.eu This email address is being protected from spambots. You need Javascript enabled to view it. . Also if you have any relevant details on the Co-Op investigation you can contact the PRA at PRAwhistleblowing@bankofengland.co.uk This email address is being protected from spambots. You need Javascript enabled to view it. .
From TRS, things heating up a bit now.

Extremely poor. But TBH it has been com8bg for weeks. This team is nowhere near ready even for the mince that is the Scottish Premiership. That we will win the league season is probable. But teams are wise to the single dimension stuff that we seem to lapse into when Plan A does not work.
Centre defence has been wrong all season. Today it got found out.

Hearts defender is a complete cunt
Anyone see him kick out at the half time whistle?

Was unable to go today due to recovering from gastroenteritis.
Sad that this would maybe be my last ST game after 30 seasons in the same seat. Eldest, who has had a ST next to me for a couple of seasons does not want to go back. Says it is boring. He is right. If we were going down having given all, few would have problems.
It is the fact we have top tier wages being given to 4th tier quality players and no board to guide us in any way (now or for years) that has lead us here.
No one needs a ST for next season. Pick the games you want to go to. You'll probably even get your previous ST seat or nearby as few will go for another season in tier 2.
Sad it has come to this. But I just cannot do it anymore.
If the effort returns so will I. Don't care about results, divisions, just want the effort. Not even bothered about skill. Just give me a team that tries as best they can 100% each week. And I'll be there.
But if they are not bothered.....

How did this useless Hibs team beat us 3 times?
Must admit, thought the very worst with the team. Thought a good cuffing was in the offing. Happy to put hand up and admit wrong.

I'll have a pint of what you're drinking!

Your cosy room courtesy of her majesty will be waiting.
Complete numbnut!

Disgrace!

Yeah just what we need. Banned songs then attacking opposing fans.
Very helpful.
Numbnuts

Personally I'd drop them all. Every single player. Get all the loan guys back, play them and reserves. Have the so called first team polishing the boots.
What could possibly be worse than this load of imposters. Does not matter who signed them or who is on the touchline, not one of them deserves to wear that jersey again.
But instead of the above, we'll get platitudes, more website "We'll do better" from the players and next game another failure.
We will not be promoted this season. End of story. And we don't deserve to.
I've had a season ticket for 30 years. I cannot raise any enthusiasm for the game now. If the players cannot be arsed, why should I?

Ally deserves more than this
Shite manager yes , but we don't turn on our own, especially that man

john stevens
@pzj_1
if the co op bank allowed mr desmond to relinquish the 15 mill guarantee on the od facility, are we now seeing the true val of westhhorn?
10:36 p.m. Tue, Apr 22

He's fine, just giving us a wee scare

Hmm - strange. "Discuss"? or "post the same inane drivel with no constructive effort whatsoever purely because of a strange personal dislike of the manager"
Well, takes all sorts I suppose....

11 wins out of 11
fuck off

As I said, companies, particularly listed companies, cannot release financial information without it being checked to be whole, accurate and a fair representation of the facts on date xx.
When the accounts come out - they will be released to the Stock Exchange first, then publicly. Any announcements or declarations in public as to current, unchecked, unverified numbers would be frowned on severely by the SE.

As I said earlier, we should NOT get hung up on this "£10m at bank" stuff.
The only numbers Mather & Stockbridge can possibly quote are those from the accounts as at 30th June(?) - if THAT is £10m, then that does not include ST cash.
I cannot see anyway that the actual cash in the bank TODAY will have been quoted - THAT would be a monumental mistake.

As I said, companies, particularly listed companies, cannot release financial information without it being checked to be whole, accurate and a fair representation of the facts on date xx.
When the accounts come out - they will be released to the Stock Exchange first, then publicly. Any announcements or declarations in public as to current, unchecked, unverified numbers would be frowned on severely by the SE.

It is not out of date information - no company in the world is going to tell anyone any figure lifted from a bank statement on that day. It is highly confidential, not always 100% accurate, and means very little.
The ONLY numbers which are supposedly accurate are accounts - a snapshot at a particular date, but prepared in full, and eventually audited.

It is not out of date information - no company in the world is going to tell anyone any figure lifted from a bank statement on that day. It is highly confidential, not always 100% accurate, and means very little.
The ONLY numbers which are supposedly accurate are accounts - a snapshot at a particular date, but prepared in full, and eventually audited.

As I said, companies, particularly listed companies, cannot release financial information without it being checked to be whole, accurate and a fair representation of the facts on date xx.
When the accounts come out - they will be released to the Stock Exchange first, then publicly. Any announcements or declarations in public as to current, unchecked, unverified numbers would be frowned on severely by the SE.

It is not out of date information - no company in the world is going to tell anyone any figure lifted from a bank statement on that day. It is highly confidential, not always 100% accurate, and means very little.
The ONLY numbers which are supposedly accurate are accounts - a snapshot at a particular date, but prepared in full, and eventually audited.

It is not out of date information - no company in the world is going to tell anyone any figure lifted from a bank statement on that day. It is highly confidential, not always 100% accurate, and means very little.
The ONLY numbers which are supposedly accurate are accounts - a snapshot at a particular date, but prepared in full, and eventually audited.

If Mather was reading the number from the accounts, rather than the bank statements, then as the accounts are a snapshot as at 30th June (?), there would not be any ST cash in there.
If when accounts come out they show "Cash at Bank" £10m + then this is IPO plus any other income as at the date of the accounts, most probably pre ST money coming in.

Fine - name one person who would represent Rangers as a brand and would be better known as such anywhere in the world.
Walter is linked to Rangers the same way as SAF is to Man Utd. We all knew he would eventually "move upstairs", only decision was which office.
So if he is the Chairman, figurehead, representing the club - excellent. Get Mather etc running the club, working with Ally etc on players, scouting network establishment, club turnaround.
And the problem has been, BTW that there has NOT been enough business savvy on the board, separating the figurehead from the businessmen - this would do that.